El-Rufai raises women empowerment fund to N1bn
Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday said the government would raise the state women empowerment fund to N1 billion from 2021.
The governor said this in Kaduna while opening the 4th Kaduna Women Economic Empowerment summit.
“We are ready to expand the funds to N800 million by 2020 and also promise to further raise it to N1 billion annually from 2021,” he said.
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According to him, the fund is already achieving its purpose in promoting women entrepreneurship across the state.
“The beneficiaries of the first batch are paying back by demonstrating remarkable profit and guaranteeing that more women will benefit. Records throughout the world have shown that women are more honest and they repay loans at a faster rate than men.
“I am happy that women of Kaduna state have proved that, by repaying this loan,” he added.
Gov. El-Rufai assured women of the state of more support, adding that the state government would continue to put the people first in all its policies and programmes.
“It involves determined efforts of making life better by investing in the social sector, fixing schools and hospitals, expanding access to antenatal care, free paediatrics services.
“As we seek progressive attainment for our society, we must ensure the vigorous participation of everyone that lives in it; that includes recognizing, supporting and promoting women to make their contributions to society.
“Our drive to promoting equality of opportunities cannot succeed if it doesn’t embrace women at their various stages of life.
“Part of our population is women and any society that fails to utilize the opportunities, capacities and talents of women is ignoring half of its human capital.
“Why should we restrict our own potentials by using only one hand, when the task of comprehensive development requires two hands. We are committed to women because we believe in a fair and progressive society.
“We signalled this fight by specifically, appointing five women into our state executive council in our first term; we have appointed successfully, additional three women.
“We selected a female deputy governor and everyone said we made a mistake; that we will lose the election, but now the rest is history and thanks to the women,” the governor further stated.
He commended his deputy for taking the job with admirable energy, commitment and passion. According to him, she is performing her role as deputy governor with calmness, competence and dedication.
The governor added that apart from the four women in his cabinet, another one will soon be made the commissioner of health, reiterating that the quality of women in his administration indicates that competence is a human attribute across both genders.
